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Older People: Protection

Asked by Martin WrigleyLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 13 February 2025UIN 29785

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to protect older people from (a) violence, (b) abuse and (c) neglect.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock

Any form of violence, abuse, or neglect is unacceptable. The Government makes it clear, in the statutory guidance of the Care Act 2014, that local authorities must ensure the adult social care services they commission are safe, effective, and of high quality.

Since April 2023, the Care Quality Commission has had a duty to assess local authorities’ delivery of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014.

The Home Office has provided funding to Hourglass to provide enhanced helpline support for older victims of abuse and a focus on reaching older victims across England and Wales by providing more training to staff in their organisation and external agencies.

The Government is also launching an independent commission into adult social care as part

of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will

start a national conversation about what working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care.

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